Abstract: A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.

Abstract: An expandable introducer sheath for passage of implant delivery catheters, such as catheters for delivery of prosthetic heart valves. The expandable sheath balances the amounts, shapes and positions of various stiff and elastic structures in the sheath to selectively program the expandability and buckling stiffness of the sheath. The expandable sheath can include, for example, an expandable tubular layer that includes alternating stiff and elastic wall portions of a single radial thickness. The combination of stiff and elastic wall portions allow for torque and push strength to advance the expandable sheath while at the same time accommodating temporary expansion. The expandable sheath can also be reinforced with a tubular layer of braided fibers or a stent structure for additional strength. Other embodiments include selective use of slots or gaps at the distal end of a stiff wall portion to enhance expandability and distribute strain.

Abstract: A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.

Abstract: A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.

Abstract: A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.

Abstract: A connection assembly in a vehicle comprises a bracket including a sliding groove; and a connector including a base plate configured to be received in the sliding groove of the bracket. The base plate or an inner wall of the sliding groove has a raised portion and a through hole on the raised portion. At a locked position, the base plate is at least partially received in the sliding groove and contacts the inner wall of the sliding groove under a pressure via the raised portion.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprising a mono-crystalline shape memory alloy and a method for forming thereof.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for an interior trim part in a vehicle is provided. The fastener assembly comprises a fixed element and a movable element. The fixed element includes a base panel with a through hole and a plurality of engaging parts extending from a surface of the base panel, and the engaging parts are flexible and deformable towards or away from a central axis of the through hole. The movable element includes a flange and an engaging shaft extending from a surface of the flange, and the engaging shaft passes through the through hole of the fixed element to be engaged with the engaging parts at a fixed position.

Abstract: A water dispenser having beverage-making function is provided. The water dispenser can include a body defining a beverage making cavity with an open side therein; a beverage making assembly disposed in the beverage making cavity and including a beverage container for accommodating a beverage capsule, the beverage container having a first penetration member for penetrating a bottom of the beverage capsule; and a water injection mechanism for supplying water to the beverage capsule and having a second penetration member for penetrating a top of the beverage capsule.

Abstract: Provided is a water supply apparatus (100) including: a cooling tank (1), a refrigerating systems and a heat exchange device (4). The cooling tank is provided with a cold water outlet (11) and suitable to connected to water source; the refrigeration system comprises a compressor (31), a condenser (32), a throttling device (33) and the evaporator (34). The heat exchange device (4) is arranged outside the cooling tank (1) and provided with a water inlet (41) and a water outlet (42) communicating with the inside of the cooling tank (1), wherein the heat exchange device (4) is constructed such that water in the cooling tank (1) flows into the heat exchange device (4) from the water inlet (41) and performs a heat exchange with the evaporator (34), the water after the heat exchange flows out from the water outlet (42) and flows back to the cooling tank (1).

Abstract: A rotation type sliding bar with quick assembly and disassembly, includes a bar and a wall bracket device that can be fixedly assembled to the wall, a lock set and a rotation sleeve. The lock set is disposed with a sleeve portion coupled to and sleeved on the outer side of the wall bracket, the sleeve portion is disposed with at least an assembly hole vertically running through the sleeve portion; the bar is inserted to the assembly hole, the rotation sleeve is sleeved on the sleeve portion, the rotation sleeve is coupled to the wall bracket, the wall bracket, the lock set and the rotation sleeve are locked and the sleeve portion is driven to slide with respect to the wall bracket by moving the rotation sleeve, so that the wall bracket pushes the bar to lock and connect the wall bracket, the lock set and the bar.

Abstract: Composition and method for surface-functionalized SPION-based agents. Such agents can provide highly pH-sensitive MRI contrast in tissue.

Abstract: Techniques and implementations pertaining to an integrated gas diffusion layer with a sealing function are described. A method for making the integrated gas diffusion layer with the sealing function may involve placing a gas diffusion member inside a mold followed by injecting a sealing material into the mold. The method may also involve having the sealing material substantially covers a peripheral portion of the gas diffusion member and at least partially penetrates into a peripheral portion of the gas diffusion member. The method may further involve curing the sealing material to form a sealing member having a lip ring. A height of a portion of the mold corresponding to a non-lip ring portion of the sealing member is less than or equal to a thickness of the gas diffusion member.

Abstract: Spliced bipolar plates for fuel cells are provided. The spliced bipolar plate includes a supporting plate and a splice plate. The supporting plate has three inlet openings and three outlet openings formed thereon. A plurality of coolant flow channels are provided on one side of the supporting plate, while a recess of a uniform thickness is provided on the opposite side of the supporting plate. One side of the recess is opened to a transverse or a longitudinal side of the supporting plate. The splice plate is divided into a reaction zone part and an extended part by the supporting plate. The size of the reaction zone part is substantially the same as the volume of the recess such that the reaction zone part is received in the recess, connecting the splice plate to the supporting plate. The extended part of the splice plate is projected beyond the supporting plate.

Abstract: A hollow endodontic instrument having: a file axis; a proximal end; a tip; and a shaft portion between the proximal end and the tip; wherein the shaft portion defines a hollow void at least partially bounded by a plurality of fingers and a plurality of longitudinal spacings, each finger extends from the proximal end and includes an outer surface and an inner surface extending between longitudinal opposing walls; and wherein a portion of at least one of the longitudinal opposing walls includes a cutting edge.

Abstract: A device may receive performance information for a traffic flow assigned to a quality of service (QoS) class. The device may determine an overall packet delay, associated with the traffic flow, based on the performance information. The device may determine a radio access network (RAN) delay, associated with the traffic flow, based on the performance information. The device may determine a target packet delay associated with the QoS class. The device may identify, based on the target packet delay, the RAN delay, and the overall packet delay, a QoS sub-class to which the traffic flow is to be assigned. The QoS sub-class may be associated with the QoS class. The device may cause packets, associated with the traffic flow, to be marked for treatment in accordance with the QoS sub-class.

Abstract: A catalyst component for olefin polymerization, comprising Mg, Ti, a halogen and an electron donor, wherein the electron donor is at least one unsaturated ring-substituted diacid ester compound. Also provided is a catalyst containing the catalyst component and the use of the catalyst in an olefin polymerization, e.g., propylene polymerization.

Abstract: An audio system including an audio playback device that is configured to operatively connect to a plurality of digital audio sources for playback of content from the digital audio sources and each of the audio playback devices including a set of preset indicators. Each preset indicator in the set of preset indicators is configured to have assigned to it an entity associated with one of the plurality of digital audio sources. A first control device is wirelessly coupled to the audio playback device via a first wireless communication interface and includes a first level of control functionality while a second control device is wirelessly coupled to the audio playback device via a second wireless communication interface and includes a second level of control functionality that is greater than the first level of control functionality.

Abstract: A rotation type sliding bar with quick assembly and disassembly, includes a bar and a wall bracket device that can be fixedly assembled to the wall, a lock set and a rotation sleeve. The lock set is disposed with a sleeve portion coupled to and sleeved on the outer side of the wall bracket, the sleeve portion is disposed with at least an assembly hole vertically running through the sleeve portion; the bar is inserted to the assembly hole, the rotation sleeve is sleeved on the sleeve portion, the rotation sleeve is coupled to the wall bracket, the wall bracket, the lock set and the rotation sleeve are locked and the sleeve portion is driven to slide with respect to the wall bracket by moving the rotation sleeve, so that the wall bracket pushes the bar to lock and connect the wall bracket, the lock set and the bar.

Abstract: A method for setting a mode of a server includes setting the mode of the server to the negative mode when the sever boots, monitoring the network to detect a DHCP offer packet provided by another DHCP server in the network, setting the mode of the server to the positive mode when no DHCP offer packet is provided by the another DHCP server in the network and analyzing the DHCP offer packet to determine the mode of the another DHCP server when the DHCP offer packet is provided by the another DHCP server in the network. The modes of the server can be set automatically according to a state of a network in which the server works.